Eat More Fruit!

This has been a great year, right off the bat. In January I received the great news that my tumor marker had dropped to well within the normal range. That was followed by more good news when my PET scan in February showed no signs of cancer. I've been on a plant-based diet since the cancer recurrence in 2005, with about 50% raw food, until last year when I tweaked my diet to 80-100% raw. I believe that’s what finally sped up the healing process. I’ll get specifically to the fruit part shortly.

My research into raw foods has been relentless, and after receiving the PET scan results in February I decided to fine-tune my diet even further by going ninety days on a 100% raw vegan diet. Although I’m now cancer-free I still have some health issues that need to be resolved and I reasoned that a 100% raw diet would contribute to further healing.

When the cancer came back it spread to several places, including my skin, in the form of nodules all over my neck, torso, back, underarms, and – the nastiest of all places – my eyelids. The latter aren’t noticeable to most people but they certainly make their presence known to me. They’ve clogged my oil glands, leaving my eyes chronically and unbearably dry and without lubrication. The other nodules have receded and are nearly gone but there are still some small stubborn ones, mostly on my neck.

Even though these are residual “tumors” with no cancer cells remaining, as verified by the PET scan, I want them GONE. So, no more grains. Forget about beans. Not even an occasional organic egg. I was surprised to find how easy the transition to 100% raw has been and I can only attribute that to the fact that I had already been at least 80% raw for nearly one year. My cravings for cooked food were short-lived once I went all the way raw. The ninety day mark recently past but I'm not yet ready to incorporate cooked food back into my life.

Last week I received the results of my three month follow-up which showed that my tumor marker is virtually unchanged – still well within the normal range. I can now say with even more confidence that I am cancer-free. This is wonderful for many obvious reasons, but perhaps most importantly because of what I’ve learned about fruit, of all things.

I’ve always loved fruit – who doesn’t? However, there are many contradictory reports when it comes to fruit sugar and cancer. Some experts say to limit fruit because sugar – even natural sugar – feeds cancer. Others say fruit is OK. I found it impossible and undesirable to stay away from fruit. I trusted my instincts and ate fruit daily but was unsure if I was eating too much or not enough. Cautiously, I limited myself to about four or five pieces of fruit daily.

Malignant cells have a tough protective membrane that makes it difficult for the immune system cells to penetrate and destroy them. Sugar feeds cancer, right? Intuitively, or perhaps because I love fruit so much, I aligned myself with those who believe that the fruit sugar is a transport vehicle into the cancer cell – a sort of Trojan horse – that once inside releases its antioxidants and destroys the cancer.

When I went 100% raw in February my fruit intake nearly doubled. Everything I eliminated was replaced by luscious fruit, but as I approached my three-month follow-up I wondered if I was doing the right thing. Would my tumor marker increase? Could cancer still be lurking, just waiting for some more sugar to feed its growth? Needless to say I was very happy to learn that my markers have stayed put.

On the other hand, why haven’t the markers dropped to zero? While I’m doing extremely well with the 100% raw lifestyle, the nodules have not dissolved in this relatively short period of nearly four months. So, once again I’ve recently taken my diet to the next level. And I do mean recently – in fact it’s only been a few days.

I’ve read quite a lot about the various forms of raw vegan diets and the one I’ve been following since February actually has quite a lot of fat from nuts, seeds, avocados and oils. Perhaps that’s why the transition to raw wasn’t too difficult – I was still consuming a high fat diet, which is standard for most Americans.

The diet which has resonated most with me while at the same time seems difficult to adhere to is the “80-10-10 raw vegan diet", AKA the low-fat vegan diet, or in shorthand: “811rv”. This term was coined by Dr. Douglas Graham in his book “The 80-10-10 Diet”. The numbers refer to nutrient ratios, with a minimum 80% of calories from carbohydrates (fruits and vegetables); a maximum 10% from protein and no more than 10% from fat. Food is consumed as it comes from nature: an abundance of raw, whole, fresh fruits, greens, vegetables, and a very small amount of nuts and seeds. I know it seems radical and it’s taken me some time to embrace this concept but I now understand the science behind it and am giving it a try. I’ve read some remarkable accounts of healing from this very diet, or I should say “lifestyle”.

With the 811rv diet fruit rules. Greens and vegetables are also important but fruit supplies the majority of calories and provides ample energy and the bulk of nutrients. I no longer have a love-fear relationship with fruit and am getting used to consuming many more times the amount of fruit than I’ve ever been accustomed to. Like I said, this is a recent change and I’ll have follow-up reports with my progress, but so far I don’t get hungry or tired provided I get enough calories from fruit – not fat.

For those shaking their heads in doubt or wondering about fruit fueling diabetes or candida – I have one thing to say: It’s not the fruit sugar you should worry about –it’s the fat! Fruit digests very quickly and gets energy to your cells within minutes, while fat takes anywhere from 12 – 24 hours to make its sluggish way into your cells. If you eat fruit while there’s still fat in your bloodstream (maybe from a high-fat meal the night before) it has a tough time getting to your cells. Fat slows everything down and your blood sugar increases, fueling the growth of candida among other troubles. I’m writing a report that will go into more detail about this and other plant-based diets, so watch for that. And don't be afraid to eat more fruit!

Book Update

I've received many inquiries about the book I'm writing and I'm grateful that so many people are waiting for its completion. It's quite an undertaking but I continue to plug away and I still expect to be finished by the end of this year. I sometimes feel pulled in many directions and find it difficult to find large blocks of time to devote to writing. If I could write full time I would likely finish in two or three months. Nonetheless, I'm working on the book most nights and trying to gather momentum. The reports I've been writing for NaturalNews.com will find their way into the book in edited or expanded forms, so please keep checking back for links to more articles. Thanks for all the emails and interest. Salud!

To view my reports on NaturalNews.com (formerly NewsTarget.com) follow theses links:

Plant-Based Diets: An Overview of Options for Optimal Health

The Laetrile Saga, Part II: Cancer Therapy and Medical Duplicity

The Laetrile Saga, Part I: Cancer Treatment and Prevention

Iodine Deficiency and Its Link to Diseases in the Body

Whole Body Detox (Part 1): Lymphatic Cleansing With Rebound Exercise

Whole Body Detoxification (Part 2): Fasting

Whole Body Detoxification (Part 3): Far-Infrared Sauna Use

Whole Body Detoxification (Part 4): The Coffee Enema

A Holistic Strategy Against Cancer

Enzyme Therapy For Cancer Prevention And Treatment

Thermography: A Safer Option for Breast Cancer Detection

My Nutritional Protocol

I've developed this regimen over time and it looks very different from the "one-size-fits-all" protocol that was prescribed to me when I went to the hospital in Mexico. I think each individual needs to investigate their own possible deficiencies, absorption problems and/or toxic metal loads before being sure of what their bodies need to heal.

I've highlighted the items I will probably always take, although the amounts may change. The rest of the supplements I will gradually eliminate as my body continues to heal. Once I've completely detoxed from the heavy metals and my deficiency and absorption problems have been resolved I should have no problem getting everything I need from my plant-based diet.

So here's my protocol (everything in bold will likely be followed for the rest of my life):

• I start the day with a 2-ounce shot of wheatgrass juice, which cleanses and oxygenates the blood. It also helps to pull heavy metals out of bodily tissues.

• Greens, greens, and more greens! I put greens and fruit in my morning smoothie; I eat a large salad for lunch, and dinner always involves greens and other vegetables in some form.

• I've transitioned to more raw foods (vegetables, fruits, sprouts, juices, nuts, seeds and flax, coconut and olive oils.) The change has been gradual and natural. I'm usually 100% raw until the weekend, at which time I'm at least 80% raw. I put no pressure on myself to adhere to a certain percentage; rather, I feed my body what it asks for. I still crave rice, beans, bread, eggs, steamed veggies, etc., but as I continue with more raw food, these cravings may diminish. In fact, I no longer crave dairy or sugar as I once did. I can replace cooked grains, legumes and beans with their sprouts and grasses, and breads can be replaced with raw, dehydrated crackers which I'm still experimenting on. If I find that those cravings never diminish then I’ll happily continue with an 80 – 100% raw diet.

There are many reasons for raw foods, but that's a whole other report on its own. I believe that virtually everyone would benefit from replacing some percentage of cooked and processed foods with raw foods, and the more the better. Knowing what amount will work best is an individual investigation that takes time.

• I do a weekly cleansing fast; a monthly three-day fast, and a seasonal five to ten-day fast. I started regular fasting after my condition had remained stabilized for several months. The long fasts may vary in duration. My longest fast so far has been five days, and my upcoming Spring fast will be seven days. In the Summer I intend to complete a ten-day fast. Fasting helps my body rest, detoxify and rejuvenate itself.

When I started consuming more raw foods and fasting, my tumor markers finally started to plummet. The internal purification taking place has led me to want more raw food and less cooked, and I am much more in tune with the actual needs rather than the addictive cravings of my body. Our bodies are vibrating in energy, and I feel my rate of vibration has increased due to the gradual release of physical, emotional and spiritual toxins.
For more info on fasting, check back for my report soon to be published.

• I don’t always have time to make fresh juices everyday (except for the wheatgrass which only takes ten minutes, including clean-up) so I often use a green powder “super food” drink, which is very convenient. I’ve used so many different ones and found two that I like. One is called Greens First (as far as I can tell it’s not available anywhere except online at pureprescriptions.com) and the other is called “Perfect Food” by Garden of Life. The first one is very palatable while the second one is more potent, so I mix them together.

• Enzymes with & without meals. For more information on enzymes follow this link to my report: Enzyme Therapy for Cancer Prevention and Treatment

• 25mg Iodoral (iodine plus iodide) to address a deficiency. Most Americans have an iodine deficiency and don’t know it. Read the book Iodine: Why You Need It, Why You Can’t Live Without It, by Dr. D. Brownstein. In it you will learn about the link between iodine deficiency and various cancers and other illnesses.

If you ask your doctor for a test to check iodine levels, you will only find out if you have enough iodine in your system to support your thyroid, but the mineral is needed throughout the body, including the breasts, ovaries and prostate. You can contact an independent lab such as FFP Lab at ffp_lab@yahoo.com or 1-877-900-5556 to arrange for iodine “spot” and “loading” tests to determine the level of saturation in your body’s tissues.

I’ve also been tested for heavy metals & have high levels of mercury & several other toxic metals. Iodine will help displace the metals from my tissues, although it could take up to a year to do so. Maybe not, since I've increased my chlorella with daily wheat grass juice - 2 - 4 oz.

• ATP co-factors to facilitate delivery of iodine into the cells (300 mg Vitamin B2, also known as riboflavin, plus 1500 mg Vitamin B3, also known as niacin).

• Antioxidants: 3000 mg Vitamin C; 400 I.U.Vitamin E and 200 mcg. Selenium.

• 1000 mg AHHC mushroom extract as an immune stimulator. I hope to be off this soon & have recently started adding fresh aloe vera gel in my morning smoothie which serves a similar purpose and is much cheaper at $1.59 per leaf. I get it at the Mexican grocery store down the street from where I live. They sell the entire leaf which is sometimes as long as three feet! The gel inside remains fresh and most mornings I cut off a chunk, remove the outer skin, blend my smoothie, stop and add the gel before pulsing the blender a few more seconds until completely blended.

• 3000 mg fish oil extract for the healthy Omega-3s.

• 4 gms Vit B12 in the form of methylcobalamin for easier absorption. I have a B12 deficiency also, no doubt due to the heavy metals, and the fact that my consumption of animal protein has always been on the low side.

• 400 mg Magnesium.

• I drink distilled, purified water with a liquid mineral complex added. I'm researching other pure water sources and this might change.

I was also taking intramuscular injections of laetrile (a natural chemotherapy made from apricot pits) but recently stopped because my body has been rejecting them by causing pain and swelling at the injection site. We need to give our bodies more credit for their innate intelligence.

My Healing Rituals

I've been asked what I mean when I say that I'm focusing on healing. How does that work, and what are “healing rituals?” It's true that much of my energy is devoted to taking the best care of myself that I possibly can. In the process I've developed a shift in priorities and perspective. I no longer consider my healing rituals – which are the therapies and practices that have helped me rebuild my health - as necessary burdens that prevent me from doing other important things. What could be more important than reclaiming my health and strengthening my spirit? The daily practice of my rituals no longer has an "expiration date" that coincides with remission, and I look forward to a long, productive and healthy life enhanced by them. Aside from my plant-based diet and food preparation, here are some of my ritualistic highlights:

• 20 minutes of stretching, which releases toxins from bodily tissues.
• 5-10 minutes of daily vigorous skin brushing to remove dead skin cells and stimulate my lymphatic system.
• 20-30 minutes of rebound exercise on a mini trampoline, plus 2-minute sessions throughout the day. (Check back for my report on lymphatic cleansing with rebound exercise).
• 40 minute daily session in infrared sauna for whole body detoxification. (Check back for my report on sauna use).
• Daily affirmations and introspection (or prayer, if you will).
• Daily journal writing.
• Daily meditation.
• Deep breathing exercises several times throughout the day.

To read my report on holistic healing follow this link:
A Holistic Strategy Against Cancer

Cancer 101

To anyone reading this who has just been diagnosed with cancer, I’d first like to say two words: “Don’t panic!” Cancer is not a death sentence and as long as you are breathing you still have a functioning immune system that can be strengthened, allowing your resilient body to heal itself. Believe it!

And by the way, don't ever claim ownership of the cancer by calling it "my cancer", unless you want to keep it.

Many people have asked me what I’ve done to reverse my Stage IV metastatic breast cancer without orthodox treatments. The short answer is that I’ve done many things, beginning with educating myself about how to provide the body, mind and spirit what it needs to heal naturally.

I’ve used many, many natural therapies and supplements, but what I believe to be the single most important aspect of any healing regimen is diet. Proper nutrition will enhance all the other treatments, whereas a poor diet will delay or prevent healing.

If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or any other chronic illness, you would do yourself a great favor by considering the role your diet plays in helping or hindering your healing efforts. It’s not likely that your doctor will advise you on nutrition because s/he has not been trained in that area.

We’ve been accustomed and conditioned in our society to expect quick fixes in the form of prescription drugs or toxic therapies; however, these treatments address only the symptoms (tumors and metastasis) while ignoring the underlying imbalances and needs of the body. In order to heal, toxins must come out of the body. Ingesting toxins will never allow the body to heal itself.

Here are just a few suggestions to begin cleansing your body:

If you are addicted to the Standard American Diet (SAD) you should immediately eliminate the worse offenders, including sugar, refined grains, hydrogenated oils and trans-fatty acids. If you drink alcohol, use recreational drugs or smoke cigarettes, quit.

Avoid drinking tap water, carbonated beverages and caffeine. Instead drink filtered water, herbal teas and fresh, organic juices.

Some important foods that should be added to the diet include fresh vegetables, especially the leafy greens like spinach and kale, fruit, raw and unsalted seeds and nuts, unheated olive oil and flax oil, as well as coconut oil for cooking.

Try to add more raw foods as you reduce your intake of cooked and processed foods.

These are just a few tips to get you started. For more information and inspiration visit the following websites:

http://www.hippocratesinst.org/Home.aspx
http://livingfoodsinstitute.com/index.htm
http://www.crazysexycancer.com/home.php
http://www.rawfamily.com/index.htm

Cancer Free!

Really great news today. I had a PET Scan last week & saw my doctor for the results today. There were NO findings of any cancer in my body! No big surprise to me but it sure was good to hear the confirmation.

I still have these nodules, but they are diminishing & are actually dead cancer cells. Now my body has the task of dissolving and eliminating them. My oncologist is still cautious about using the word "remission" & instead says I'm doing remarkably well. I don't want to use that word either because it implies that the cancer is still lurking somewhere in my body, waiting to show itself again. Instead, I will declare now that I am cancer-free!

I will continue with my regimen that has allowed my body to heal, & with that there's no chance of a recurrence. In three months I'll have another blood test to check the tumor marker, which is now in the normal range. I think my doctor secretly expects it will go up again because he doesn't fully understand my regimen. I, on the other hand, expect the number to continually drop to zero.